February 3, 2016

TO:

Bring Back Solar Alliance

FROM:

Erik Iverson, Principal

RE:

Nevada Voter Survey Results

Nevada voters overwhelmingly disapprove of the PUCs recent decision to charge higher fees to
solar customers in the state. In addition, voter perceptions of NV Energy and the NV PUC have
significantly declined since October 2015, before the December decision to charge solar customers
higher rates. As a result of the PUCs decision regarding fees on solar customers, a wide majority of
Nevada voters agree there should be a special session of the legislature to reverse the decision and
allow up to 5% of Nevadas energy to come from solar. Here are the details.
Seven-in-ten (70%) voters are aware of a recent decision
by the Nevada Public Utilities Commission regarding
special fees required of solar customers. Their decision to
Strong Opposition to PUC Decision
charge higher fees on both existing customers who have
already installed rooftop solar and new customers is also
widely unpopular.
Fully 89% of voters disagree with the Nevada PUCs
decision, just 5% agree with the decision and 6% had no
opinion. Importantly, sentiment is strong on this issue,
with fully 72% saying they strongly disagree with the
decision. Wide majorities of voters in all demographic
subgroups throughout the state strongly disagree with the
PUCs decision to charge solar customers higher rates,
including Republicans, Democrats and Independents,
alike. There is also strong opposition regardless of
ethnicity, with strong disagreement among both Hispanics
and Anglo voters in the state.
NV Energy and the Nevada PUC are not popular with voters today.

The PUCs image is negative today, at 16%

favorable/41%
unfavorable.
Unfavorable
opinions of the PUC have more than doubled
since October when its image was 21/19%.
Importantly, the PUCs image is negative
across all parties today and significantly more
negative among likely voters.

NV Energys image has also taken a big hit;

today it is 37/46%, compared to 50/31%
among voters in October.

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As a result of the PUCs decision regarding fees on solar customers, fully 78% of Nevada voters
agree there should be a special session of the legislature to reverse the decision and allow up to
5% of Nevadas energy to come from solar (60% strongly agree). More than seven-in-ten
Republicans, Democrats and Independents agree. Additionally, 75% of Anglos voters and 90% of
Hispanics agree there should be a special session to reverse the decision.

The Legislature should call a special session to

reverse the Nevada Public Utilities Commissions
decision and make it easier for Nevadans to install
solar, by allowing up to five percent of Nevadas
energy to come from rooftop solar.

Strongly
agree

Total
agree

Total
disagree

60%

78%

18%

Methodology: This telephone survey was conducted January 22-24, 2016 by Moore Information,
Inc. A total of 500 landline and cell phone interviews were conducted by live interviewers among a
representative sample of registered voters, statewide. The potential sampling error is plus or minus
4% at the 95% confidence level.

Nevada Voters Survey

Moore Information